Research Background:
In August 2020, a stand-up comedian Yang Li sparked a buzz on Chinese social media after her statements during the performance, which she said: “How does a guy look so ordinary, but he can be so confident? ” While Yang Li received a lot of support from audiences, some felt that Yang Li was intentionally demeaning to men rather than supposedly speaking out for women.
Today the term derived from this performance by Yang Li, The term ‘puxin nan’（普信男）, has become a frequently used term on Chinese social media, translating directly as’ an ordinary but overconfident male.’
yet particularly mysterious.
Is like you can never guess,
what’s going on in that little brain.
How does a guy look so ordinary,
but he can be so confident?
Yang Li’s performance also got me thinking, as a western form of entertainment, stand-up comedy is by its very nature ‘the art of offending’ to most people, so it seems justifiable that some people got offended by the jokes in the context of traditional Chinese culture. But those who are offended by the term ‘Puxin man’ seem to have a deeper reason.
In the environment of China’s patriarchal society, men are generally expected to show positive masculinity, which means taking on more work and effort and restraining their feelings. And the proliferation and stereotyping of the term ‘puxin male’ on the internet has certainly hit a sore spot for most Chinese men.
I believe that traditional gender norms continue to be deeply ingrained in China, both men and women have social expectations and many suffer under these gender stereotypes. In China, owning a decent property and a car is often deemed necessary for men to be considered suitable partners for marriage, while they are expected to be the primary breadwinners for their families. The resulting burden of these expectations, which can lead to feelings of depression and resentment.
These thoughts lead me to finding the definition of masculinity in China. What does it mean to be a man in China, What are expected? Where do all the negative stereotypes come from? Why are the key factors for men and women to work together to make fundamental changes to the societal expectations placed on gender roles.
The following are some of the initial steps and possible sources I found during my research.
WHAT: The subject I intend to research is the concept of masculinity in China, and the societal expectations placed on men.
Precise Question: What does it mean to be a man in China, what are the expected gender roles and stereotypes, and how do these impact the mental health and well-being of men in Chinese society?
WHY: This research will be valuable because it will shed light on the cultural and societal pressures that Chinese men face, and how these expectations impact their mental health and well-being. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of gender roles and stereotypes in China, and inform efforts to promote gender equality and positive masculinity.
Moreover, this research can provide insights into how gender roles and stereotypes are constructed and perpetuated in other societies and inform efforts to promote gender equality and positive masculinity in China.
HOW: The project will be conducted using a mixed-methods approach, including literature review, interviews with Chinese men and women, and analysis of social media discourse related to masculinity and gender roles in China.
By identifying key stakeholders, such as Chinese men’s rights groups and Chinese feminist organizations, and finding opportunities to work/interview with them to ensure that their perspectives are included in the research.
WHAT IF: Positive implications of this research could include increased awareness and understanding of the challenges that Chinese gender roles face, and inform efforts to promote gender equality and positive masculinity in China and other societies.
Sources:
- “Toxic Masculinity in Chinese Culture” by Xuefei Wang (2019)
- “Young Men and Masculinities in Chinese Cinema” edited by Kam Louie and Ban Wang (2019)
- “Masculinities in Chinese History” edited by Bret Hinsch (2018)
- “Toxic Masculinity and Its Discontents: The Chinese Film Industry” by Yiman Wang (2017)
- “Masculinity Besieged? Issues of Modernity and Male Subjectivity in Chinese Literature of the Late Twentieth Century” by Carlos Rojas (2016)
- “Masculinity and Sexuality in Cold War Chinese Literature” by Ban Wang (2013)
- “Gender and Sexuality in Modern Chinese History” edited by Susan Mann and Yu Xie (2012)
- “The Power of Patriarchy: How It Shapes the Chinese Family Today” by Susan Greenhalgh (2011)